Unloading mechanism



May 28, 1940. D. A. JOHNSTON UNLOADING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 9, 1939 3Sheets-Sheet 1 M W M 5M DWIGHT AJ'm-ms'ro N y 4 I D. A. JOHNSTON2,202,555

UNLOADING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 9, 1939 3 SheetsSheet 2 DWIGHTA.J'-oHNsToN y 28, 1940- D; A. JOHNSTON v 2,202,555

UNLOADING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 9, 1939 s Shets-Sheet 3 DWIGHT A.JOHNSTON Patented May 28, 1940 UNITED? STATES UNLOADI'NG MECHANISM I toMcKay Machine Dwight A. .Iohns ton, Youngstown, Ohio, assignor Company,Youngstown,

Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application January 9,

e v I e 12 Claims. The present invention relates to the art of formingmetal articlesand more particularly to novel method and apparatus forremoving bent or curved stock from bending or forming inachines and thelike. I leretofore, the expeditious removal of the formed article frombending, rim rolling and other similar machines has presenteddifiiculties since the inherent strength and resilier'itby of the formedarticle resists separation h) of the same from parts of the machineabout which it may have become encircled. Thus the productive capacityof machines of the kind indicated has heretofore been limited and it is,e accordingly, the primary object of the invention to provide amechanism whereby the formed arholes may be quicklyremoved from suchmachines.

A further object of the invention is the provision of apparatus for thepurpose stated which is automatic in its operation and which consistsofrelatively few simplycons'tructed parts whereby the same is economicalto construct and dependable in operation.

The above and other objects and advantages of the-invention will becomeapparentfrorn a consideration of the accompanyingdrawingsand thefollowing detailed description of a representative adaptation of theprinciples of the invention. For illustration purposes, the invention isshown as applied to rini bending machine the function of which is toconvert straight lengths of the rim stock into looped forms preparatoryto Welding and other fabrication processes althoughit should becomeobvious that the invention is adaptable to other specific uses.

In the drawings:

Figure liis an end view ofya rim bending ma: chine embodying theprinciples of the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine of Figure l; v

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 33 of Figure1'; and

Figure 4 is an" enlarged sectional view of a structural feature of themachine.

The rimior'ming machine consists essentially of three bending rollsarranged inpyramid formation, the lower two rolls in being fixed whilethe upper roll II is vertically adjustable by the screws 12. The innerends of the rolls-are rotatably supported in bearings supportedby thegear case l3 while the outer ends thereof are journaled in the outboardhousing HR The rolls are driven by the motor l5" through a drive It andsuitable gearing (not shown) housed within the case I3. 55 The variouscomponent partsof the machine are 1939, Serial No. 249,879 ((1153-61)assembled on the base I1 andby referringto Figures? and 3 it can be seenthat as the stock 2E1 is fed into the machine and between the upper andlower bending rolls, H and I0, respectively,- it will be bent into alooped form indicated at 2 i In accordance with usual practice suitableoperating means 23-24- is provided to raise .and lower the screws 'l2whereby the relativevertical posi tion of the upper mu and consequentlythe radius of curvature of the loopedform may be varied. The stoc'l i isguided into the bending rolls by the guide rolls 25 and the machine mayinclude marking or stencil and anvil rolls 2-5 and 2-1, re spectively.

Each of the lower bending r'oll'slii consists of a pair of spacedsleeves keyed on a shaft 3i. Interpo'sed between the sleeves on each ofthe shafts 3t are the sprockets 3 -2 at least one of which is keyed toits carrying shaft. The outer diameter of the sprockets 32 is less thanthe diameter of the sleeves 31 to provide space within the generaliperipheral contour of the rolls for an endless linl; chain 33- whichpasses over both sprockets 321 A series ofspaced dogs 34 are can riedthe chain 33-, each being pivotally attachedthereto at its leading endby the pin 35 and being provided with suitable means (not shown) biasingits trailing end to outer position. Dogs 3-4 are provided with outwardlyextending lugs 38 and the various parts involved are so proportionedthat with the dogs in their inner retracted positions the lugs aresubstantially within the general outer periphery of the chain. In outerposition of the dogs, the lugs 35 extend outwardly of the chain.

Encircli-ng apo'rtion of the upper bending roll H and mounted in closeproximity thereto isthe arcurately shaped member 38- which is adapted torotate about the axis of the roll. For the latter purpose, the member 38is carried by sleeves 39 (see Figure 4) rotatably mounted on the shaftll of the upper bending roll H. One of the sleeves 38', preferably theone adjacent the gear case i3 is provided with a sprocket 39 about whichis looped the link chain 40. The lowerm'o'st reach Ofchain 40" passesover an idler sprocket 4| and has its end attached to a resilient coilspring 42. The other portion of chain All passes over a second idlersprocket 43 and has its end attached to the piston rod 45 of anair orhydraulic cylinder 44. I

Compressed air from a suitable source it is supplied to cylinder 44through the three way valve 41 and conduit 48. Valve 41 is controlled bya solenoid which when energized operates to connect source 46 and theconduit 48, the valve being so constructed that upon deenergization ofsolenoid 5|], the conduit 48 is connected with the outlet 49.Energization of solenoid 50 from line 54 is controlled by switch 5|which in turn is actuated by a lever pivotally mounted on the frame ofthe machine and carrying at its upper end a roller 53 which is adaptedto be engaged by the stock 20 passing through the machine. When stock 20is engaging roller 53, lever 52 is in its counterclockwise position, asviewed in Figure 3, and the switch 5| is open.v As the end of the stockleaves roller 53, the blade of switch 5| moves to closed position andthe solenoid 5|] is energized through line 54, switch 5|, conductor 56,solenoid 5|], conductor 51, normally closed switch 55 and back to line54.

Extending radially outwardfrom the central portion of and preferablyintegral with the member 38 is the flap 58 the purpose of which is toform an abutment for the leading edge of the stock piece 2i? after thesame has been bent into loop form by the bending rolls previouslydescribed.

In operation, the stock pieces 20 are guided into the machine asdescribed above and as the roller 53 is engaged and arm 52 rotatedcounterclockwise, switch 5| is opened, deenergizing solenoid 55 andreleasing pressure from within cylinder .45 thereby enabling spring 42to contract and to consequently move the chain over sprockets 39', M and43. Resultant rotation of sprocket 39 moves the member 38 and. fiap 58to the position shown in full lines in Figure 3. As the stock passesbetween the bending rolls 1-H and over the chain 33, the lugs 36 of thepivoted dogs 34 will be maintained in resilient engage: ment with theunder surface of the stock. 1 When, however, the end of the stock piecereaches the first of the lower bending rolls, the lugs 35, because ofthe outward biasing of the dogs 34, will move outwardly and engage theend of the piece. In the meantime, the piece will have passed overroller 53 and cylinder 44 through chain will have either moved the flap58 to the position shown in dotted lines or will be tending to move theflap to such position. As the bending process is completed the trailingedge of the stock piece will be engaged by one of the lugs 36 and thetrailing end ejected from the space between the rolls. Upon the releaseof the stock piece from between the rolls, the flap 58 will move rapidlyupward, if it is not already in upper position, thereby springing thelooped form from the upper bending roll and consequently away from themachine. The operation is such that forces are exerted on both ends ofthe looped stock piece to spring the same over and away from the rollabout which it may have become resiliently encircled upon completion ofthe bending or forming process. I

The above specifically described embodiment of the invention should beconsidered as illustrative only as obviously many changes may be madetherein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention, theextent of which is indicated in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination with a bending machine having two anvil rolls and abending roll, means to eject completed forms from said machinecomprising pass aligned recesses in the working surfaces of the anvilrolls, a sprocket in each of said recesses and rotatable with saidrolls, a link chain connecting said sprockets, ,a plurality of spaceddogs pivotally mounted on said chain and, each provided with anoutwardly extending lug, said dogs being normally biased to positionsout-1 wardly of the contour of said chain and rolls, a flap rotatableabout the axis of the bending roll and adapted to form an abutment forthe leading end of the stock piece being bent, means operable uponengagement with the stock piece to retain said flap in retractedposition, said means being operable upon disengagement with said stockpiece to urge said flap toward the material leaving side of the group ofsaid rolls.

2. In combination with a bending machine having two anvil rolls and abending roll, means g to eject completed forms from said machinecomprising pass aligned recesses in the working surfaces of the anvilrolls, a sprocket in each of said recesses and rotatable with saidrolls, a link chain connecting said sprockets, a plurality of spaceddogs pivotally mounted on said chain and each provided with an outwardlyextending lug, said dogs being normally biased to positions outwardly ofthe contour of said chain and rolls,-a flap rotatable about the axis ofthe bending roll and adapted to form an abutment for the leading end ofthe stock piece being bent, said flap being carried by a sleeverotatably mounted on the shaft of said bending roll,-a sprocket on saidsleeve, a link chain passing over said sprocket and connected at one endwith a motor, a spring connecting the other end of said last mentionedchain, and a switch operated by stock passing through said machine incontrol of said motor.

3. In combination with a bending machine having two anvil rolls and abending roll, means to eject completed forms from said machinecomprising pass aligned recesses in the working surfaces of the anvilrolls, a sprocket in each of said recesses and rotatable with saidrolls, a link chain connecting said sprockets, a plurality of spaceddogs pivotally mounted on said chain and'each provided with an outwardlyextending lug, said. dogs being normally biased to positions outwardlyof the contour of said chain and rolls, and stop means engageable by theleading ends of said forms to open out the loops in said forms wherebysaid dogs are operable to spring the forms.

away from said bending roll.

4. In combination with a bending machine I having two anvil rolls and abending roll, means to eject completed forms which may have becomeencircled about said bending 'roll, comprising a flap rotatable aboutthe axis of the bending roll and adapted to form an abutment for the 1leading end of the stock piece being bent, means to move said flaptoward the material leaving side of the group of said rolls, and means.operable by stock passing through said machine to control said secondmentioned means 5. In combination with a bending machine having twoanvil rolls and a bending roll, means to eject completedforms from saidmachine comprising means to engage the leading end of the stock pieceafter the stock has passed through the rolls, means to engage thetrailing end of said stock piece as the same is passing between therolls and means operable in response to the position of said trailingend to move said first mentioned means toward the material leavin sideof the group of rolls.

6. In combination with a machine having a stock bending pass, means toeject bent forms from an'element of said machine about which the formsmay have become encircled comprising a chain adapted to engage the outersurface of moving and changing portions of the stockpiece, means carriedon the chain to engage the trailing end of the piece, means to engagethe leading end of said piece after it has passed through said pass,means to move said leading end engaging means toward the materialleaving side of said pass whereby the bent form may be sprung from saidelement, and means responsive to the position of said trailing end incontrol of said fourth mentioned means.

7. In combination with a machine having a stock bending pass, means toeject bent forms from an element of said machine about which the formsmay have become encircled comprising a chain adapted to engage the outersurface of moving and changing portions of the stock piece, meanscarried on the chain to engage the trailing end of the piece, means toengage the leading end of said piece after it has passed through saidpass, and means to move said last mentioned means toward the materialleaving side of said pass whereby the bent form may be sprung from saidelement.

8. In combination with a machine having a stock bending pass, means toeject bent forms from an element of said machine about which the formsmay have become encircled comprising means to engage and propel thetrailing end of the stock piece as it issues through the pass, means toengage the leading end of the stock piece after it leaves the pass,means to move said last mentioned means toward the material leaving sideof said pass whereby the bent stock piece may be sprung from saidelement, and means responsive to the position of said trailing end incontrol of said fourth mentioned means.

9. In combination with a machine having a stock bending pass, means toeject bent forms from an element of said machine about which the formsmay have become encircled comprising means to engage and propel thetrailing end of the stock piece as it issues through the pass, means toengage the leading end of the stock piece after it leaves the pass, andmeans to move said last mentioned means toward the material leaving sideof said pass whereby the bent stock piece may be sprung from saidelement.

10. In combination with a machine having a stock bending pass, means toeject a bent stock piece from an element of the machine about which itmay have become encircled comprising a member against which the leadingend of the stock'piece may abut after it leaves the pass, means to movesaid member toward the leaving side of said pass, and means responsiveto the position of the trailing end of said piece in control of saidlast mentioned means.

11. In combination with a bending machine having two anvil rolls and abending roll, means to eject completed forms from said machinecomprising pass aligned annular recesses in the working surfaces of saidanvil rolls, a stop engageable by the leading ends of said forms as saidforms issue through said pass, an endless member entrained over saidanvil rolls within said recesses,

pass between said rolls to actuate said edge engaging means.

DWIGHT A.v JOHNSTON.

